Spring-motor



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P. BRIGGS. SPRING MOTOR.

No. 443,313. r Patented Dec. 23, 1890.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. BRIGGS.

SPRING MOTOR.

No. 443,313. v Patented Dec. 23, 1890.

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(No Model.)

P. BRIGGS. SPRING MOTOR.

No. 443,313. Patented Dec. 23,1890.

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FRANIIBRIGGS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPRING-MOTOR.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,313, dated December 23, 1890.

7 Application filed September 8,1890. Serial No. 364,261. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK BRIGGS, of the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsyhvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Spring-Motors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention has relation to spring-motors of the class substantially as described in my application for Letters Patent filed July 23, 1890, Serial No. 359,655; and it consists in a spring-motor composed of a supporting-frame for the drums and gearing of the motor, in which two or more drums are arranged in a series oneach side of the said frame, and the gearing mechanism to which the power is imparted is adjusted in the said frame between two of the said series, each of the said drums having two or more springs wound thereon, the said drums of each series connected with each other by toothed gear-wheels, by means of which the total force of the combined springs of the different series is communicated to and connected with a single shaft or gearing, and from thence, directly or indirectly, the power is transmitted througha system of gear-wheels to the weight to be operated or to the wheels of the vehicle or other machinery to be propelled, said gear-wheels and drums being regulated and controlled by levers and devices substantially as hereinafter more particularly described.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction of spring-motor in which the greatest power can be obtained in the most convenient and compact form.

I preferably employ in combination with my improved spring-motor herein described an air governor and regulator such as described and claimed in my pending application for Letters Patent filed June 14:, 1890, Serial No. 355,417, though other regulators and brakes for regulating and controlling the speed of the motor may be employed.

In the accompanying drawings, as a matter of illustration, I show and describe two series of drums of four drums each provided on each side of the gearing and power transmitting mechanism and regulating device, though other numbers or series of drums in each series may be employed and other numbers of coiled springs on each drum may be employed, as desired.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved motor. Fig. 2 is an end elevation to the left, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 00 w of Fig. 1.

B 13' represent the outer walls of the motorcasing, connected by the rods or parts B B within which the various parts are journaled and set in position. The walls 13 B divide the casin g into practically three separate compartments, in the two outer ones of which two separate series of drums of four each are journaled and set, while in the center compartment between the two series of drums the gearing for transmitting the combined force from the drums is journaled and set, together with the levers, rods, &c., for regulating and controlling the speed and direction of the motor. The drums A A A A are secured in position in a series between the walls B B on their several respective axles or shafts, and the drums A A A A are secured in position between the walls 13' E on their several respective axles or shafts. Each of the drums in the construction shown is provided with six separately-coiled and independently-ea cured flat coiled springs s s s s 5 8 These springs are secured to their respective drums by having their ends affixed to the drum in any well-known manner. Each drum is provided on its circumference. preferably on both sides, in a manner substantially as described in my former application, with large gearwheels G. The gear-wheels on each drum of a series work into and operate or are operated by similar gear-wheels on two of the other drums of a series. The springs on all the drums are wound up to the proper tension by the single handle H by the system of gearing shown in the drawings or by any wellknown system of gearing constructed to wind all the drums at the same time and the springs to the same tension. The inner ends of the flat coiled springs on each drum are secured to the axles on each drum. As these axles are rotated in the proper direction the springs of the drums are wound tightly upon the same.

Referring to Fig. 1, handle ll, through the medium of a train of gearing when turned in the proper direction, rotates the axle g of the drums A A and tightens the springs thereon. The gear-wheel G is secured on the axle g and communicates its motion to the axle g of the drum A through the medium of the gearavheel G As the axle g is continuous with and forms the axle of the drum A, the springs thereon are at the same time wound to the same tension, and the gearwheel G provided on the axle of the drum A communicates the same motion to the axle g of the drum A through the medium of the gear-wheel G". In a similar manner the other drums of each series are connected and the winding of the springs on all the drums effected by the operation of a single handle. This is a desirable construction of winding mechanism; but I do not limit myself to this particular construction. The combined power of the drums of the one series is connected through the medium of the gearavheels G to the gear-wheels on the dru in A and to the gear-wheel of the drum A" of the other series, and-from thence the combincd force or power of the two series is communicated to the small gear-wheels C 0 provided on the shaft 0, which is a continuous shaft of the'entire length of the motor and has its journal-bearings in the walls thereof. The power is thence communicated from the shaft 0 to the shaft (I through the JllOtllllIll of the gear-wheels c and d, and so on through a train of gearings to the extent desired to the load to driven, as may be desired.

I also provide, preferably, on my motor, as before stated, as a regulator or brake, my improved air-governor constructed substantially as described and claimed in my pending application, Serial No. 355,l17, which is shown in the drawings in connection with my improved motor herein described, although other governors, brakes, or regulating devices may be employed. K represents the air-cylinder connected with the crankshaft 11 by means of a piston-rod to the crank provided on said shaft H. Y is the valve provided on the inner wall 13' of the motor, which regulates the opening and closing of the ports, connected, respectively, by the tubing 25 t with the cylinder K at either end, which valve V is adapted to be opened and closed by the lever L connected therewith through the medium of the rods Z Z. \Vhen theports of the valves are closed, the piston-head within the cylinder K, pressing against the air within and at the same time producing a suction, is prevented from operating, and the machine is consequently brought to a standstill. hen the ports of the valve V are opened, the air within the cylinder K is allowed to escape by pumping in and out alternately, according to the exposure of the mouths of the ports, which are preferably formed in thin narrow slits, and

the speed of the motor is thereby regulated and controlled. The fly-wheel \V for stationary motors is provided on an independent shaft and connected by means of the gearwheel 1/! to the large gear-Wheel it provided on the shaft II and acts as a balance. A lever M is provided on the wall 13", connected by the rods m m with a pawl p, adapted to fit in the ratchet-wheel provided on the shaft 11' for preventing the motor from operating when desired.

I also preferably employ, as before stated, a regulating device for regulating and controlling at will the direction of the gearing directly operating the wheels of the vehicle or the machinery to be driven. E is a regulating-lever provided on the-wall 13" for regulating and controlling the direction desired to be given to the vehicle propelled, which is connected through the medium of the rods e c e and theshifting-collar c" to the lateral adjustable shaft or axle 1 provided with the toothed gear-\vheelsff, of different diameters, adapted to engage in thegearwheel 7i provided on the shaft ll and in the gear-wheel 7L provided on the shaft 7L respectively, to which said shaft 71. the power is communicated from the shaft ll through the medium of the toothed wheels (Z h. A lateral adjustment of the shaft F is'effected by the operation of the lever E by means ofthc jointed arms 6 c and the elbow-arm e, substantially as described in my pending application, Serial No. 359,655. As the lever Eis thrown forward the shaft F- is thrown to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, and the toothed wheel f engages with the wheel and is revolved in a given direction. \Vhemhowever, the lever is thrown back in the opposite direction, the shaft F is shifted laterally to the right, and, the gear-wheel 'f engaging in the gearwheel 71., the shaft F is revolved in an opposite direction. When thelever E is adjusted halfavay between the two extreme points, the gear-wheels ff are disengaged from the motor-gearing, and are consequently at astandstill. The direction of the vehicle may thus be changed at will or brought to a standstill by the operation of the lever E. Each of the leversM, L, and E is provided with a pawl and toothed rack for the purpose of holding the respective levers at any desired position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

1. In a spring-motor, two or moreseries of revoluble drums, each drum of a series con nected with two other drumsof the same'series, a series ofsprin gs mounted on each drum, toothed gear-wheels mounted on and connecting said drums, small gearavheels con nccted with the gearing on the drums, a shaft carrying small geamvhcels, saidshaft adapted to receive the combined force of all the springs on each of the said drums of each series of drums, gearing for communicating said force to a device to be driven, and winding mcchanism provided on each drum and connected with each other and with a single crank for winding, as set forth.

2. In a spring-motor, two or more series of revolubledrums, each series composed of two or more revoluble drums, two or more flat coiled springs provided on each of said drums, large toothed gear-wheels provided on the ends of each of said drums, connecting each of said drums of a series with two other drums of the same series, a shaft provided with gearwheels engaging the large gear wheel or wheels provided on one of said drums of each series, to which shaft the combined force of the springs of said drums of each series is applied, mechanism for connecting and com municating said power, substantially as described, and winding mechanism, as set forth.

In a spring-motor, two or more series of revolving drums, each series composed of two or more drums, two or more flat coiled springs on each of said drums, large toothed gearwheels on each of said drums, each connectin g with two other gear-wheels on other drums, small gear wheel or wheels connected with the gear wheel or wheels of one of said drums of each series, to which the combined force of all the springs of all the said drums of each series is applied, mechanism for communicat ing the power therefrom, substantially as described, an intervening laterally-adjustable revolving shaft operated by a hand-lever for changing the direction of the power communicating with the vehicle or machinery to be moved, and mechanism for regulating and controlling the speed of the motor, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

4. A spring-motor having two or more series of drums, each series composed of two or more drums, each drum provided with two or more fiat coiled springs and large gear-wheels G, adapted to engage in similar gear-wheels of a series provided on one I or more drums, shaft 0, and gear-wheels O 0' provided thereon and engaging the series of drums, and mechanism, substantially as described, for

communicating the power to the load to be driven, mechanism for regulating and controlling the speed of the motor, and winding mechanism, substantially as described.

5. A spring-motor having two or more series of drums and fiat coiled springs provided on each of said drums, large gear-wheels G, adapted to engage in similar gear-wheels provided on one or more drums of a series, shaft 0, and gear wheels C C, engaging in gearwheels G, and mechanism for communicating the power to the load to be driven, mechanism for regulating and controlling the speed of the motor, an intervening laterally-adj ustable revolving shaft provided with gear-Wheels of large and small diameters, said wheels adapted to engage at different times with different gear-wheels provided on different shafts of the motor, said shafts laterally adjustable by means of a lever and arm for regulating the direction of the revolving parts, andwinding mechanism, substantially as described.

6. A spring-motor having two or more series of drums and fiat coiled springs provided on each of said drums, large gear-wheels G, adapted to engage in similar gear-wheels provided on one or more drums of a series, shaft 0, and gear-wheels C C, engaging in gearwheels G, and mechanism for communicating the power to the load to be driven, mechanism for regulating and controlling the speed of the motor, an intervening laterally-adj ustable revolving shaft provided with gearwheels of large and small diameters, said wheels adapted to engage at different times with different gear-wheels provided on different shafts of the motor, said shaft laterally adjustable by means of a lever and arm for regulating the direction of the revolving parts, power-controlling lever M, and winding mechanism, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of August, A. D. 1890.

FRANK BRIGGS. Witnesses:

JAMEs B. GIVIN,

HORACE Pn'rrrr. 

